波波小说

第18部分（第1页）

kin　vine；　rooted　at　somedistance；　had　run　across　the　intervening　space；　and　deposited　one　ofits　gigantic　products　directly　beneath　the　hall…window；　as　if　towarn　the　Governor　that　this　great　lump　of　vegetable　gold　was　as　richan　ornament　as　New　England　earth　would　offer　him。　There　were　a　fewrose…bushes；　however；　and　a　number　of　apple…trees；　probably　thedescendants　of　those　planted　by　the　Reverend　Mr。　Blackstone；　the　firstsettler　of　the　peninsula；　that　half　mythological　personage；　whorides　through　our　early　annals；　seated　on　the　back　of　a　bull。　　Pearl；　seeing　the　rose…bushes；　began　to　cry　for　a　red　rose；　andwould　not　be　pacified。　　〃Hush；　child；　hush！〃　said　her　mother　earnestly。　〃Do　not　cry；　dearlittle　Pearl！　I　hear　voices　in　the　garden。　The　Governor　is　ing；　andgentlemen　along　with　him！〃　　In　fact；　adown　the　vista　of　the　garden　avenue；　a　number　of　personswere　seen　approaching　towards　the　house。　Pearl；　in　utter　scorn　ofher　mothers　attempt　to　quiet　her；　gave　an　eldritch　scream；　and　thenbecame　silent；　not　from　any　notion　of　obedience；　but　because　the　quickand　mobile　curiosity　of　her　disposition　was　excited　by　theappearance　of　these　new　personages。　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　VIII。　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　ELF…CHILD　AND　THE　MINISTER。　　GOVERNOR　BELLINGHAM；　in　a　loose　gown　and　easy　cap…　much　as　elderlygentlemen　loved　to　endue　themselves　with；　in　their　domestic　privacy…walked　foremost；　and　appeared　to　be　showing　off　his　estate；　andexpatiating　on　his　projected　improvements。　The　wide　circumference　ofan　elaborate　ruff；　beneath　his　grey　beard；　in　the　antiquated　fashionof　King　James　reign；　caused　his　head　to　look　not　a　little　like　thatof　John　the　Baptist　in　a　charger。　The　impression　made　by　his　aspect；so　rigid　and　severe；　and　frost…bitten　with　more　than　autumnal　age；　washardly　in　keeping　with　the　appliances　of　worldly　enjoyment　wherewithhe　had　evidently　done　his　utmost　to　surround　himself。　But　it　is　anerror　to　suppose　that　our　grave　forefathers…　though　accustomed　tospeak　and　think　of　human　existence　as　a　state　merely　of　trial　andwarfare；　and　though　unfeignedly　prepared　to　sacrifice　goods　and　lifeat　the　behest　of　duty…　made　it　a　matter　of　conscience　to　reject　suchmeans　of　fort；　or　even　luxury；　as　lay　fairly　within　their　grasp。This　creed　was　never　taught；　for　instance；　by　the　venerable　pastor；John　Wilson；　whose　beard；　white　as　a　snow…drift；　was　seen　overGovernor　Bellinghams　shoulder；　while　its　wearer　suggested　thatpears　and　peaches　might　yet　be　naturalised　in　the　New　England　climate；and　that　purple　grapes　might　possibly　be　pelled　to　flourish；against　the　sunny　garden…wall。　The　old　clergyman；　nurtured　at　the　richbosom　of　the　English　Church；　had　a　long…established　and　legitimatetaste　for　all　good　and　fortable　things；　and　however　stern　hemight　show　himself　in　the　pulpit；　or　in　his　public　reproof　of　suchtransgressions　as　that　of　Hester　Prynne；　still；　the　genial　benevolenceof　his　private　life　had　won　him　warmer　affection　than　was　accordedto　any　of　his　professional　contemporaries。　　Behind　the　Governor　and　Mr。　Wilson　came　two　other　guests；　one　theReverend　Arthur　Dimmesdale；　whom　the　reader　may　remember　as　havingtaken　a　brief　and　reluctant　part　in　the　scene　of　Hester　Prynnesdisgrace；　and；　in　close　panionship　with　him；　old　RogerChillingworth；　a　person　of　great　skill　in　physic；　who；　for　two　orthree　years　past；　had　been　settled　in　the　town。　It　was　understood　thatthis　learned　man　was　the　physician　as　well　as　friend　of　the　youngminister；　whose　health　had　severely　suffered；　of　late；　by　his　toounreserved　self…sacrifice　to　the　labours　and　duties　of　the　pastoralrelation。　　The　Governor；　in　advance　of　his　visitors；　ascended　one　or　two　steps；and；　throwing　open　the　leaves　of　the　great　hall…window；　foundhimself　close　to　little　Pearl。　The　shadow　of　the　curtain　fell　onHester　Prynne；　and　partially　concealed　her。　　〃What　have　we　here？〃　said　Governor　Bellingham；　looking　with　surpriseat　the　scarlet　little　figure　before　him。　〃I　profess；　I　have　never　seenthe　like；　since　my　days　of　vanity；　in　old　King　James　time；　when　I　waswont　to　esteem　it　a　high　favour　to　be　admitted　to　a　court　mask！There　used　to　be　a　swarm　of　these　small　apparitions；　in　holidaytime；　and　we　called　them　children　of　the　Lord　of　Misrule。　But　howgat　such　a　guest　into　my　hall？〃　　〃Ay；　indeed！〃　cried　good　old　Mr。　Wilson。　〃What　little　bird　ofscarlet　plumage　may　this　be？　Methinks　I　have　seen　just　such　figures；when　the　sun　has　been　shining　through　a　richly　painted　window；　andtracing　out　the　golden　and　crimson　images　across　the　floor。　But　thatwas　in　the　old　land。　Prithee；　young　one；　who　art　thou；　and　what　hasailed　thy　mother　to　bedizen　thee　in　this　strange　fashion？　Art　thou　aChristian　child…　ha？　Dost　know　thy　catechism？　Or　art　thou　one　of　thosenaughty　elfs　or　fairies；　whom　we　thought　to　have　left　behind　us；with　other　relics　of　Papistry；　in　merry　old　England？〃　　〃I　am　mothers　child；〃　answered　the　scarlet　vision；　〃and　my　nameis　Pearl！〃　　〃Pearl？…　Ruby；　rather！…　or　Coral！…　or　Red　Rose；　at　the　very　least；judging　from　thy　hue！〃　responded　the　old　minister；　putting　forth　hishand　in　a　vain　attempt　to　pat　little　Pearl　on　the　cheek。　〃But　where　isthis　mother　of　thine？　Ah！　I　see；〃　he　added；　and；　turning　to　GovernorBellingham；　whispered；　〃This　is　the　selfsame　child　of　whom　we　haveheld　speech　together；　and　behold　here　the　unhappy　woman；　HesterPrynne；　her　mother！〃　　〃Sayest　thou　so？〃　cried　the　Governor。　〃Nay；　we　might　have　judgedthat　such　a　childs　mother　must　needs　be　a　scarlet　woman；　and　a　worthytype　of　her　of　Babylon！　But　she　es　at　a　good　time；　and　we　will　lookinto　this　matter　forthwith。〃　　Governor　Bellingham　stepped　through　the　window　into　the　hall；followed　by　his　three　guests。　　〃Hester　Prynne；〃　said　he；　fixing　his　naturally　stern　regard　on　thewearer　of　the　scarlet　letter；　〃there　hath　been　much　questionconcerning　thee；　of　late。　The　point　hath　been　weightily　discussed；whether　we；　that　are　of　authority　and　influence；　do　well　discharge　ourconsciences　by　trusting　an　immortal　Soul；　such　as　there　is　in　yonderchild；　to　the　guidance　of　one　who　hath　stumbled　and　fallen　amid　thepitfalls　of　this　world。　Speak　thou；　the　childs　own　mother！　Were　itnot；　thinkest　thou；　for　thy　little　ones　temporal　and　eternal　welfare；that　she　be　taken　out　of　thy　charge；　and　clad　soberly；　and　disciplinedstrictly；　and　instructed　in　the　truths　of　heaven　and　earth？　What　canstthou　do　for　the　child；　in　this　kind？〃　　〃I　can　teach　my　little　Pearl　what　I　have　learned　from　this！〃answered　Hester　Prynne；　laying　her　finger　on　the　red　token。　　〃Woman；　it　is　thy　badge　of　shame！〃　replied　the　stern　magistrate。　〃Itis　because　of　the　stain　which　that　letter　indicates；　that　we　wouldtransfer　thy　child　to　other　hands。〃　　〃Nevertheless；〃　said　the　mother　calmly；　though　growing　more　pale；〃this　badge　hath　taught　me…　it　daily　teaches　me…　it　is　teaching　meat　this　moment…　lessons　whereof　my　child　may　be　the　wiser　andbetter；　albeit　they　can　profit　nothing　to　thyself。〃　　〃We　will　judge　warily；〃　said　Bellingham；　〃and　look　well　what　weare　about　to　do。　Good　Master　Wilson；　I　pray　you；　examine　this　Pearl…since　that　is　her　name…　and　see　whether　she　hath　had　such　Christiannurture　as　befits　a　child　of　her　age。〃　　The　old　minister　seated　himself　in　an　arm…chair；　and　made　aneffort　to　draw　Pearl　betwixt　his　knees。　But　the　child；　unaccustomed　tothe　touch　or　familiarity　of　any　but　her　mother；　escaped　through　theopen　window；　and　stood　on　the　upper　step；　looking　like　a　wild　tropicalbird；　of　rich　plumage；　ready　to　take　flight　into　the　upper　air。　Mr。Wilson；　not　a　little　astonished　at　this　outbreak…　for　he　was　agrandfatherly　sort　of　personage；　and　usually　a　vast　favourite　withchildren…　essayed；　however；　to　proceed　with　the　examination。　　〃Pearl；〃　said　he；　with　great　solemnity；　〃thou　must　take　heed　toinstruction；　that　so；　in　due　season；　thou　mayest　wear　in　thy　bosom　thepearl　of　great　price。　Canst　thou　tell　me；　my　child；　who　made　thee？〃　　Now　Pearl　knew　well　enough　who　made　her；　for　Hester　Prynne；　thedaughter　of　a　pious　home；　very　soon　after　her　talk　with　the　childabout　her　Heavenly　Father；　had　begun　to　inform　her　of　those　truthswhich　the　human　spirit；　at　whatever　stage　of　immaturity；　imbibeswith　such　eager　interest。　Pearl；　therefore；　so　large　were　theattainments　of　her　three　years　lifetime；　could　have　borne　a　fairexamination　in　the　New　England　Primer；　or　the　first　column　of　theWestminster　Catechisms；　although　unacquainted　with　the　outward　form　ofeither　of　those　celebrated　works。　But　that　perversity；　which　allchildren　have　more　or　less　of；　and　of　which　little　Pearl　had　a　tenfoldportion；　now；　at　the　most　inopportune　moment；　took　thorough　possessionof　her；　and　closed　her　lips；　or　impelled　her　to　speak　words　amiss。After　putting　her　finger　in　her　mouth；　with　many　ungracious　refusalsto　answer　good　Mr。　Wilsons　question；　the　child　finally　announced　thatshe　had　not　been　made　at　all；　but　had　been　plucked　by　her　mother　offthe　bush　of　wild　roses　that　grew　by　the　prison…door。　　This　fantasy　was　probably　suggested　by　the　near　proximity　of　theGovernors　red　roses；　as　Pearl　stood　outside　of　the　window；　togetherwith　her　recollection　of　the　prison　rose…bush；　which　she　had　passed　ining　hither。　　Old　Roger　Chillingworth；　with　a　smile　on　his　face；　whisperedsomething　in　the　young　clergymans　ear。　Hester　Prynne　looked　at　theman　of　skill；　and　even　then；　with　her　fate　hanging　in　the　balance；　wasstartled　to　perceive　what　a　change　had　e　over　his　features…　howmuch　uglier　they　were…　how　his　dark　plexion　seemed　to　have　grownduskier；　and　his　figure　more　misshapen…　since　the　days　when　she　hadfamiliarly　known　him。　She　met　his　eyes　for　an　instant；　but　wasimmediately　constrained　to　give　all　her　attention　to　the　scene　nowgoing　forward。　　〃This　is　awful！〃　cried　the　Governor；　slowly　recovering　from　theastonishment　into　which　Pearls　response　had　thrown　him。　〃Here　is　achild　of　three　years　old；　and　she　cannot　tell　who　made　her！　Withoutquestion；　she　is　equally　in　the　dark　as　to　her　soul；　its　presentdepravity　and　future　destiny！　Methinks；　gentlemen；　we　need　inquireno　further！〃　　Hester　caught　hold　of　Pearl；　and　drew　her　forcibly　into　her　arms；confronting　the　old　Puritan　magistrate　with　almost　a　fierceexpression。　Alone　in　the　world；　cast　off　by　it；　and　with　this　soletreasure　to　keep　her　heart　alive；　she　felt　that　she　possessedindefeasible　rights　against　the　world；　and　was　ready　to　defend　them　tothe　death。　　〃God　gave　me　the　child！〃　cried　she。　〃He　gave　her　in　requital　ofall　things　else；　which　ye　had　taken　from　me。　She　is　my　happiness！…　sheis　my　torture；　none　the　less！　Pearl　keeps　me　here　in　life！　Pearlpunishes　me　too！　See　ye　not；　she　is　the　scarlet　letter；　only　capableof　being　loved；　and　so　endowed　with　a　millionfold　the　power　ofretribution　for　my　sin？　Ye　shall　not　take　her！　I　will　die　first！〃　　〃My　poor　woman；〃　said　the　not　unkind　old　minister；　〃the　childshall　be　well　cared　for！…　far　better　than　thou　canst　do　it！〃　　〃God　gave　her　into　my　keeping；〃　repeated　Hester　Prynne；　raisingher　voice　almost　to　a　shriek。　〃I　will　not　give　her　up！〃…　And　here；by　a　sudden　impulse；　she　turned　to　the　young　clergyman；　Mr。Dimmesdale；　at　whom；　up　to　this　moment；　she　had　seemed　hardly　somuch　as　once　to　direct　her　eyes。…　〃Speak　thou　for　me！〃　cried　she。〃Thou　wast　my　pastor；　and　hadst　charge　of　my　soul；　and　knowest　mebetter　than　these　men　can。　I　will　not　lose　the　child！　Speak　for　me！Thou　knowest…　for　thou　hast　sy

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